THUNDER: Pineda to rehab in Trenton Tuesday

TRENTON — Fans in Trenton will get a chance to see what fans in the Bronx have waited more than a year for Tuesday, when Michael Pineda will make a rehab start for the Thunder.

The 6-foot-7 righty, who is working his way back from an anterior labral tear that kept him out the entire 2012 season, has already shown some positive signs in two turns out with High-A Tampa and a simulated game. He’s allowed three runs — just one earned — in 14 innings, with his once-vaunted fastball touching 96 miles per hour.

Mark Newman, the Yankees’ Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations, was on hand at Arm & Hammer Park Monday and said that he expects to see Pineda continue to refine his approach in his time in Trenton.

“Strikes and continued improvement of his command,” Newman said, when asked what he was looking for. “His stuff has gradually improved. Command, control, hope he uses his change-up a little bit. It’s coming along for him. He’s been good. He got up to 96 his last time out. That’s not going to be all of it. If he’s pitching at 92-93, he’s around the plate, that’s good.”

Pineda is expected to throw 70-80 pitches, or about six innings, in Tuesday’s 7:05 start against the Erie SeaWolves. Yankees senior pitching instructor Greg Pavlick, who is overseeing his rehab, is also in Trenton.

“I did speak with Michael, and he seemed to be in pretty good spirits and here to get some work in,” manager Tony Franklin said.

Pineda was expected to be a mainstay in the Yankees’ rotation when he was traded for the organization’s top prospect, catcher Jesus Montero, in January 2012. In his one season with the Seattle Mariners, he posted a 3.74 ERA while striking out just over one batter an inning, which was good enough to earn him a spot on the All-Star team.

After reporting to spring training last season overweight, however, Pineda didn’t throw a single pitch for the Yankees. In August 2012, he was arrested and charged with DUI, pleading no contest.

Still, the Yankees have hope he can return to his 2011 form.

“He was a pretty good pitcher before he got hurt,” Newman said. “When we traded for him, he was an All-Star.”

Though Pineda will likely require more starts before making it back to the major leagues, the Thunder’s schedule makes it unlikely he’ll pitch again in Trenton. After the series with Erie, the team travels to Binghamton and Portland.

He could, however, join the Scranton Wilkes-Barre rotation. The RailRiders start a nine-game home stand July 4th.

Newman wouldn’t speculate on Pineda’s future.

“We’re going to look at this start and then talk to Cash (general manager Brian Cashman) and we’ll see,” he said. “We’re going to evaluate the performance and decide. We’re not big on timetables.”

***Franklin said that newly-promoted catcher Francisco Arcia will be behind the plate for Pineda’s Tuesday start. The other backstop on the roster is Jeff Farnham, who was demoted from Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre June 13.

“When you do have these rehab assignments, you want to put your best foot forward,” Franklin said.

The 23-year old Venezuelan has started five of the last six contests for the Thunder. JR Murphy had been the team’s primary catcher before being promoted to Triple-A the same day Farnham was recalled.

“I think (Arcia) runs a pretty good game and pitchers, which is not to say Farnham couldn’t handle it,” Franklin said. “Arcia is scheduled to play tomorrow and I think it’s a pretty good choice.”

***Halfway through the season, Newman said that the Thunder’s trio of top outfield prospects — Slade Heathcott, Tyler Austin and Ramon Flores — has come up a bit short of the organization’s expectation.

The three are hitting a combined .250, with just four home runs and 33 RBIs.

“They’re all doing less than we’d hoped, less than what they’d hoped, but they’re all two years younger than the average age of the league,” he said. “It’s not a big deal for us.”

On the flip side, he pointed to first baseman Kyle Roller and reliever Tommy Kahnle as pleasant surprises. Roller is hitting .272 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs, while Kahnle boasts a 1.71 ERA with nine saves.